Container cutter



Feb. 6, 1940. R. D. DUMONT 2,189,341

CONTAINER CUTTER Filed May 18, 1939 iNvENToR 22 27 75 g] 30 .RDuva/Dumon/ BY Var/icy, /Wdmarr [A943:

ATTORN EYS i Patented Feb. 6, 1940 I lUlvlfrnliis'lmrs-s rATENToFI-ICE l 2,189,341 V" n CONTAINER CUTTER A Reiman Duval D'umonhNewlYork, Y. A

Application May 18, 1939. `sel-iai No. 274,348 i) 7 claims.

This invention relates to container cutters and has for an object the provision'of improvements in this art.

The invention provides a cutter which is adapted to quickly and cleanly cut open oil filter containers to provide inspection of the contents whereby the operator may'know to what extent the iilter` material in the container has become lled with `dirt and sludge.

As marketed, oil filter containers are provided with circumferential seams forming ribs which may be utilized to guide va cutting tool. In sometypes of containers the ribs are narrow and in others they are wide. `In some they are l near the top` of the container and in others they are between the ends. l In the drawn steel type of container the rib is narrow` and located between the ends.

The tool'formed according to the-present invention is provided with groovedguide rollers and sharp edged cutting rollers which are adapted `to track thegrooved rollers as they travel around on the ribs of the containerx rIhe grooved rollers are provided with narrow grooves adapted to ride on the narrow `ribs and also with wide `grooves adapted to ride on the wide ribs. Both grooves are so placed on vthe rollers r that in either case the A,cutting rollers will travel very close ,to the side' of the yrib where the resistance to crushing is" great and the cutting action most favorable.`

The invention will best be understood by reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawingy wherein: r

Fig. 1 is an elevational perspective view showing the cutting device usedfor opening a` container having a ribbed seam intermediate its ends; v

Fig. 2 is a planview of the cutter alone; and

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

After a container Ihas been removed from a car itmay be clamped at one end in `a vise Il secured to a workbench I2. The seam rib I3, whether at one end or between the ends is then in the clear ready to receive the cutting tool I4.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention the cutting tool comprises two spaced roller supporting members I5 adapted to be connected together by bolts I6 provided with clamping wing nuts I'I. Springs I8 on the bolts keep the members I5 spaced apart whereby the tool may be easily slipped on a container.

r ting rollers.

, possible.`

Each roller supporting member `I5is provided with van' integral extension E9 adapted to serve serrat'e'dfor better cutting effect. The grooved roller is provided witha'narrow groove 22` and a wide groove" ZSseparatedjby a rib 24. The

rib `24` lis aligned with the cutting roller 2|` and isquite narrow 'inorder that the cutting rollers may travel close toA the edge of a rib of the container when one of the grooves "23 or 24 is riding on the container rib. f

The grooved rollerZII` of each member I5 is `rotatably `mounted on a shaft 2B secured between Preferably a .clear opening is left between the sidey .elements 2'!` in order that theoperator may observe wlfietl'ierv spaced side elements 21.

a"'groove of the roller is engaged with thecontainerfriband"whichlgrooveit is.

` Likewise the-cuttingroller 2| of I5 isrotatably mountedfon a shaft 29 secured between spaced side elements 30,. VIn ytliisgcaee `also a clear `opening is preferably left between` them side elements 30 in order that the operator' may observe whether the cutting rollers are tracking each other, `that is, cutting in the same line.r

\ ABy providing two I cutting rollers and `tw`o grooved 'rollers they may be vdisposed in like pairs substantially opposite each other forany size of container which is to be cut. It` will also be apparent that the two grooved rollers are so `placed as to resist flattening or collapse of the container due to the pressure of the cut.-

Since two handles are provided and in opposite positions, thefturning forces `will also be balanced.4 These constructional-features make it possiblecto cut open a container of much thinner metal than would otherwise be The cutter is made so `it may` be adjusted through a wide range so" as to operate onc'ontainers of different sizes `with equal facility.

In operation the wing nuts on the clamping cut open. The'proper grooves are theny placed on the container rib, care being taken to use the narrow grooves or the wide grooves appropriately as narrow or wide ribs on the container are encountered. Care must also be taken` to place` both of the cutting rollers on the samev side of each member tool is opened up and removed.

the container rib and on the same side as that on which `the roller ribs 24 are disposed. In the present container making practice the narrow container ribs are located between the ends and the wide ribs. are located at or near the end, so the'cutting tool will always be in proper position if the wide roller grooves are kept uppermost.

When the rollers are evenly and snugly clamped on the container but before they are clamped very tight, lthe tool is given one or two turnsto insure that the parts are in proper position and that the cutting rollers yare tracking properlyinthe starting cutI The thumb nuts are then turned -up evenly and progressively after each few turns of the. tool until the container-is cut in two,

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a convenient and effective but inexpensive tool for opening containersyoffthe type described. While one embodiment of the :invention has `been ldescribed in detail it will be understood that the in,-

vention may be variously embodied within the limits of the priorrart andthe scope rofthe sub-` saidg'members for holding them apartagroovedV yroller in each member disposed in a through opening in the member, the grooved rollers being disposed 'approximately opposite each other with reference to the container 4to'be cut and each A roller being formed with a wide groove and a narrow groove separatedby a'rib, and a cutting roller disposed in ya through openingin each member, the cutting rollers being disposed `approisrimately opposite each other and aligned with the "ribs of saidgrooved rollers."

2. A tool for cutting containers, comprising in combination, twok spaced, members each' having a curved portion adapted to t a circular -container After this the f combination,

vand each being provided at one end with an operating handle, clamping means adjustably connecting one end of` one member and an intermediate portion of the other member, springs on said clamping means between said members for forcing them apart, grooved rollerson said members disposed approximately opposite each other with reference to the container to be out, each roller being formed With a wide groove and a narrowy groove and a rib therebetween, and cutting rollers on said members disposed approximately opposite each other and aligned with the ribs of said grooved rollers.

kv3. A tool for cutting containers, comprising in combination, two spaced members, means for clamping saidl members together on a container, and oppositely disposed grooved rollers and cutting rollers mounted on said members, said grooved rollers each having spaced grooves separated by a rib, and said cutting rollers being aligned `with the rib of said `grooved rollers.

i .4. A tool forcutting containers, comprising in combination, spaced supporting members, means for clampingr said .members together `on a container, opposed aligned tracking elements shaped to follow, a guide on vthe container, and i l opposed aligned cutting elements.

5. A tool for cutting containers, comprising in spacedk supporting members a tracking roller provided with a groove to follow a rib on ther container, abutting roller offset axially to one side of the groove of said roller rto travel at yone side of the rib of the container, and

means to clamp the parts together on the container.

6. A tool for cutting containers, comprising in combination, two spaced supporting members,

-means for clamping said members together on a container, opposed aligned tracking elements, one on each supporting member, shaped to follow a/guide on the container, and opposed aligned cutting elements, one on each supporting member, oiset axially to one side of the guiding line of the tracking element to cause it to travel at one side ofthe guide on the container.

7. A'tool as set forth in claim 6 further including tracking elements offset axially from said cutting elements and on the opposite side from said inst-mentioned tracking elements,

REIMAN DUVAL DUMONT. 

